US – Saturday, November 21

Shave and a haircut — Elliott’s $.02

You’ll notice none of America’s problems have been solved. Well, you can only blame yourself for not doing a good enough job of demanding the government act on the brilliant ideas I’ve been dispensing every week in Metro, the world’s greatest newspaper. Don’t bother groveling for forgiveness; it demeans us both.

The last of the original urban village

It was once a vibrant neighborhood, but was cleared out to make way for hospitals, hotels and upscale condos emblematic of a new Boston. Fifty years later, those that remember the neighbors and streets of the "old" West End are becoming as scarce as the landmarks of their youth.

First drop in Mass. jobless rate since ’07

The state unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent in October, marking the first decline in over two years, according to state labor officials.

Kids stand by as reform debated

Eighth-graders at the Excel Academy Charter School in East Boston scored tops in Massachusetts on the English and math MCAS tests last year, a feat that left principal Komal Bhasin and her staff both proud and motivated to continue their success.

These Orphans are not afraid to play with ‘Dolls’

Ryan Landry and his Gold Dust Orphans have long been having their way with some of the greatest films of all time. Finally, the men, women and not-so-easily-identifiable members of this ridiculously talented troupe take on the big kahuna of camp, “Valley of the Dolls.”

Exploring every ‘Avenue Q’ puppet

The fuzzy puppets that inhabit “Avenue Q” won’t teach their audiences how to sing the ABC’s. These mature Sesame Street-like adult puppets have real problems: sex, racism, morals and finding a purpose in life.

Time to erase fourth-and-2

The Patriots sound like they’re sick of talking about it.

UMass heads the crowded HEA pack

UMass sits atop Hockey East going into the weekend. But not by much.

What to do and where to go.

Published 21:56, May the 1st, 2008

Sidewalk testing on Longfellow Bridge

By the numbers

According to published estimates, the Longfellow Bridge carries roughly 50,000 cars and 100,000 Red Line passengers every day.

BOSTON. State officials have begun testing the sidewalks on the Longfellow Bridge to ensure they are safe for heavy crowds such as those that line the span on July 4, according to published reports.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) began “routine testing” on both sidewalks this week. The downstream sidewalk will be closed until noon Saturday and the opposite side will not open for good again until Sunday.

Reports said the DCR commenced the testing amid concerns that the 102-year-old bridge that carries Route 3 traffic and the Red Line was not fit for an Independence Day crowd.

Repairs on the bridge have been ongoing nightly since August in the wake of an inspection last year that showed the span was in worse shape than previously thought.

The November MMMpod features interviews and music with a band called Girls, a band of girls called Supercute, and a supercute vampire. Yes, listeners, we have Pattinson!

[Flyers by PaperG]